Oil fire death toll rises to 2

Published: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 12:46 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 12:46 p.m.

A worker died Friday from injuries he received in last week's oil platform explosion off Grand Isle, bringing the death toll to two, authorities said.

Another worker is still missing, and three others remain seriously injured from the Nov. 16 explosion and fire on the Houston-based Black Elk Energy platform.

Avelino L. Tajonera, 49, a welder from Dinalupihan, Bataan, died Friday soon after his wife and three children arrived at his bedside at the Baton Rouge General Hospital Regional Burn Unit, Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said in a statement.

"The Filipino nation joins his family in grieving over their loss," Cuisia said.

Ellroy Corporal, 42, died in the explosion while Jerome Malagapo, 28, has still not been found.

Cuisia said his information came from Randolf Malagapo, executive manager of U.S.-based D&R Resources. The company hired Tajonera and the other Filipinos injured in the explosion to work in Louisiana's offshore oil-and-gas industry.

Tajonera was one of two workers listed in critical condition. One is in serious condition. Their families have arrived in Baton Rouge to see them, Cuisia said. The men worked for the Galliano-based company Grand Isle Shipyard, which had a contract with Black Elk to maintain the idled platform.

Eleven workers were injured in the explosion, about 20 miles southeast of Grand Isle.

Some of the other workers with less-severe injuries have returned to Manila after giving their accounts of the incident to federal authorities investigating the cause of the fire, Philippine Consul Leo General Herrera-Lim said in the same statement.

Black Elk Energy has said no oil was leaking from the charred platform, which hasn't been operating since August.

Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.

<p>A worker died Friday from injuries he received in last week's oil platform explosion off Grand Isle, bringing the death toll to two, authorities said.</p><p>Another worker is still missing, and three others remain seriously injured from the Nov. 16 explosion and fire on the Houston-based Black Elk Energy platform. </p><p>Avelino L. Tajonera, 49, a welder from Dinalupihan, Bataan, died Friday soon after his wife and three children arrived at his bedside at the Baton Rouge General Hospital Regional Burn Unit, Philippine Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr. said in a statement.</p><p>"The Filipino nation joins his family in grieving over their loss," Cuisia said.</p><p>Ellroy Corporal, 42, died in the explosion while Jerome Malagapo, 28, has still not been found.</p><p>Cuisia said his information came from Randolf Malagapo, executive manager of U.S.-based D&R Resources. The company hired Tajonera and the other Filipinos injured in the explosion to work in Louisiana's offshore oil-and-gas industry. </p><p>Tajonera was one of two workers listed in critical condition. One is in serious condition. Their families have arrived in Baton Rouge to see them, Cuisia said. The men worked for the Galliano-based company Grand Isle Shipyard, which had a contract with Black Elk to maintain the idled platform.</p><p>Eleven workers were injured in the explosion, about 20 miles southeast of Grand Isle.</p><p>Some of the other workers with less-severe injuries have returned to Manila after giving their accounts of the incident to federal authorities investigating the cause of the fire, Philippine Consul Leo General Herrera-Lim said in the same statement.</p><p>Black Elk Energy has said no oil was leaking from the charred platform, which hasn't been operating since August.</p><p>Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or katie.urbaszewski@dailycomet.com.</p>